GrokSurf's San Diego

Local observations on water, environment, technology, law & politics

Posts Tagged ‘San Carlos’

« Previous Entries

Mission Trails to Lake Murray water pipeline relining project begins in August

Posted by George J Janczyn on July 18, 2012

The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) will conduct an open house to discuss its Mission Trails to Lake Murray water pipeline relining project due to begin in August.

Background (reprinted from SDCWA’s website):

“In October 2008, Pipeline 4 failed in a fairly remote section of Mission Trails Regional Park, near the San Diego River. After the failure, the Water Authority performed forensic analysis on the pipe and determined that a short section of the pipe needed to be urgently relined with steel. Subsequently, from mid-February through mid-March 2009, the Water Authority relined approximately 1,200 feet of Pipeline 4 north and south of the San Diego River.”

“This relining project will reline the sections of Pipeline 4 that were not urgently relined. Generally, relining construction rehabilitates segments of pipelines based on their age and the need for improvements. The Mission Trails to Lake Murray Relining Project involves rehabilitating approximately 3 miles of Pipeline 4 beginning immediately south of State Route 52 in Mission Trails Regional Park east of the community of Tierrasanta and continues south to Lake Murray in the community of San Carlos. It also involves rehabilitating approximately a half-mile portion of Pipeline 3 along Lake Shore Drive, south of Jackson Drive, in the community of San Carlos and city of La Mesa.”

Additional detailed information about the project is available at SDCWA’s website.

Here’s the announcement (for easier reading there’s a button at the bottom right of the announcement window to view full screen):

 

Posted in San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), Water | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

San Carlos boil water advisory cancelled

Posted by George J Janczyn on October 12, 2011

CANCELLATION OF BOIL WATER NOTICE

On October 10, 2011, residents in San Carlos, east of Cowles Mountain and north of Navajo Road, were notified of the need to boil/disinfect all tap water used for drinking and cooking purposes.

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health has determined that, through abatement of the health hazard and comprehensive testing of the water, your water is safe to drink. All tests were negative and there was no contamination found. It is no longer necessary to boil your tap water or for you to consume bottled water.

For more information call the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department at 619-515-3525.

View Map of Affected Area (PDF)

Street List (PDF)

Boil Water FAQ (PDF)

Posted in Water | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

San Carlos neighborhood still under boil water order

Posted by George J Janczyn on October 11, 2011

A failure at the Climax Pump Station in the Navajo Community neighborhood of San Carlos resulted in the loss of water pressure in a portion of the area, leading to yesterday’s boil water advisory. Whenever pressure isn’t maintained, there is a possibility of water siphoning back into the delivery system from household and landscape plumbing, so a boil water order is issued until pressure is restored and tests confirm water quality.

During the outage, city workers connected a portable pump to nearby hydrants to maintain pressure so that faucets would still function. Unfortunately the pump — which is extremely loud — had to operate during the night. Most residents appeared to be understanding about the noisy pump, although several people did harass workers and threaten they would complain to their councilmember.

A worker at the scene told me that the problem at the Climax Pump Station was due to a mechanical component that failed and that it was possibly an after-effect of the recent county-wide power outage. He said that because of the particular kind of failure a backup power generator would not have helped in this situation (he added this station has no backup generator but that “one is in the works”).

I was told the repairs to the pump station are finished but they’re going to keep the portable pump hooked up overnight.

Public Utilities Dept. Water Operations Branch spokesman Arian Collins replied to me via email:

“There is a project in the planning stages to replace Climax Pump Station, and this new pump station would have backup power. But it’s a few years away. However, backup power in this case would not have prevented the problem.

If all tests come back negative tomorrow, we will present our findings to the local office of the state Department of Public Health. If that office agrees with the findings, they will likely allow us to cancel the boil water notice. We will know more tomorrow.”

 

Posted in Water | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Boil water advisory issued for San Carlos neighborhood

Posted by George J Janczyn on October 10, 2011

[http://www.sandiego.gov/water/boilwatersancarlos.shtml]

Boil Water Notice in the San Carlos Area:
Boil Your Water Before Using

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.

View Map of Affected Area (PDF)

Street List (PDF)

Due to a water pump station failure, the California Department of Public Health and the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department are advising residents of San Carlos, east of Cowles Mountain and north of Navajo Road, to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. To confirm if your address is affected, please check the list of streets (PDF).

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one (1) minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking and food preparation until further notice. This is the preferred method to assure that the water is safe to drink.

Optional alternative to include for prolonged situations where it fits.

An alternative method of disinfection for residents that are not able to boil their water is to use fresh, unscented, liquid household bleach. To do so, add 8 drops (or 1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of clear water or 16 drops (or 1/4 teaspoon) per gallon of cloudy water, mix thoroughly, and allow it to stand for 30 minutes before using. A chlorine-like taste and odor will result from this disinfection procedure and is an indication that adequate disinfection has taken place.
Water disinfection tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

We will inform you when tests show that water is safe to drink and you no longer need to boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem by October 13, 2011.

For more information call:
Water Utility contact: City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, 619-515-3525
California Department of Public Health – Drinking Water Field Operations Branch – District Office at 619-525-4159.

Boil Water FAQ (PDF)

Posted in Water | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Another power outage scheduled for Navajo area of San Diego

Posted by George J Janczyn on May 22, 2010

SDG&E has announced another planned power outage for the western side of San Carlos near Del Cerro and Lake Murray. Electricity will be shut off at approximately 11:00pm Friday, June 4, 2010 and will stay off for up to 7 hours or longer. SDG&E indicates they need to replace an electrical switch.

Over 1000 residences mostly east of Park Ridge Blvd. and south of Navajo Road & Jackson Drive will be affected. Letters to affected residents were mailed May 21.

The same area had its power cut off last December 5, 2009 starting at 10:30pm in order to replace an electrical switch. Service was not restored until 9am the following morning.

When I called SDG&E’s planned outage number at 800-211-7343 to ask why we’re having to deal with another outage so soon for the same reason, I was told that the previous work was either done incorrectly or else some equipment was defective.

SDG&E’s power outage website is http://www.sdge.com/outages/ but it appears to lack any information about planned outages.

 

Posted in Announcements, Technology | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Valero seeking to enlarge San Carlos gas station at Jackson & Navajo

Posted by George J Janczyn on March 15, 2010

The gas station at the corner of Navajo Road and Jackson Drive in San Carlos may get a new look if a proposal by Valero is approved. According to John Pilch, President of the San Carlos Area Council (SCAC), Valero would demolish and remake the existing gas station with the addition of a car wash and convenience store. I asked for information about the permit request from the San Diego Development Services Department but they have not responded; however, the proposal is on the agenda for the next SCAC meeting April 7 at 7pm in the San Carlos Branch Library.

Mar 17: The station manager informed me that it is not Valero’s proposal, but rather the property owner who has a lease with Valero who wishes to expand. He said the owner began the process about one year ago and that “the city keeps coming up with new objections” to the plan.

The current Valero corner gas station (click to enlarge)

Valero has a corner store investors webpage: http://www.valero.com/Stores/CornerStores/Pages/Home.aspx

 

Posted in Commerce, Land use | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Toxic cleanup near Patrick Henry High School will enter a new phase; end is in sight

Posted by George J Janczyn on March 8, 2010

Del Cerro/San Carlos

The long holding pattern on cleanup of underground contamination discovered below leaky gasoline tanks removed after closing the Union 76 gas station at the corner of Navajo Road and Park Ridge Blvd. in 2002 is showing signs of change. At the time of discovery, soil samples taken from the pit where the storage tanks had been buried for 15 years revealed contamination levels 17 times higher than safety standards allow, according to this March 2009 San Diego Union-Tribune report.

The wells that were drilled into the street to vent and treat extracted fumes and liquid at the small decontamination unit on the station site are still being worked, and part of the athletic field at Patrick Henry High School remains closed, but it now appears progress is being made toward a final solution.

Bernie Rhinerson, Chief District Relations Officer for the San Diego Unified School District, says that the district is getting close to a final legal settlement with Conoco Phillips to pay for the construction cost of the appropriate underground drainage/mitigation system for the field. The current schedule is for the construction contract to be awarded in January 2011 and construction would take 4-6 months. After that there would have to be an establishment period for new turf and the estimate is that the field might be ready for use after September 2011 at the earliest.

Corner station

Wells in roadway

Decontamination equipment on station lot

Looking towards closed area at Patrick Henry High School

Corner of field below gas station

Warning sign


 

Posted in Environment, Land use | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Woman run over by own car in San Carlos

Posted by George J Janczyn on February 2, 2010

A fleet of police cars converging a few blocks from my home attracted me to the corner of Wandermere and Golfcrest Drives around 2:30pm in San Carlos where I learned of an accident involving a woman and her vehicle. A police sergeant speaking with a local Channel 8 news photographer said that the woman caregiver for a local resident had left her parked car in the driveway and saw it rolling backwards into the street, attempted to stop it, and fell and was run over by the vehicle. I didn’t learn the extent of her injuries (later: I heard she suffered a fractured pelvis). The street was closed in both directions while police conducted their investigation.

 

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Pizzeria open for Del Cerro/San Carlos area

Posted by George J Janczyn on January 31, 2010

Mountain Mike’s Pizza is now open for business in the Keil’s shopping mall at Jackson Dr. & Navajo Rd. The restaurant occupies the space that previously held the Navajo Community Service storefront which closed last summer because of the city’s budget problems.

Inside, a high ceiling and brick walls create an inviting atmosphere, with homemade photos hung for decoration. The seating area is divided into two open rooms, each equipped with two large flat-screen TVs tuned to sporting events. There’s a salad bar in front and a nook in back revealing several game machines.

The menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, create your own or gourmet pizzas plus beer & wine. A medium cheese pizza goes for $11.99 ($1.99 each additional topping) or a medium gourmet for $17.49. Delivery charge is $2.

 

Posted in Commerce, Miscellaneous | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Rains coax a small waterfall from Cowles Mountain

Posted by George J Janczyn on January 27, 2010

You don’t see it often, but Cowles Mountain in San Carlos sometimes develops a small streamlet that cascades down this rock outcrop. Some day I hope to catch it after a long heavy downpour (click to enlarge).

Posted in Water | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

« Previous Entries